Justine Cable

Justine Jacqueline Cable (born 30 April 1959) is a British politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Commons from 1993 to 1995. Cable also represented the East Midlands in Parliament from 1993 to 1995.

Following the 1993 elections, Jo Cameron, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, formed a coalition government with the Labour Party. After she and Maria Pound, the Labour leader and former prime minister, declined to become prime minister, Cameron requested that the Queen appoint Cable, despite her not being the party's leader. Thus, Cameron appointed Cable as the party's leader in the House of Commons, and in turn, the Queen appointed her as prime minister.

In January 1995, Cable made historic progress in the Northern Ireland Peace Process following the joint Downing Street Declaration with Albert Reynold, the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland. The declaration set the foundations for further dialogue and cooperation in Northern Ireland.

On 21 October 1995, Cable announced the dissolution of Parliament, triggering the 1996 elections. On the same day, she announced her immediate resignation as prime minister and her party's parliamentary leader as well as her immediate retirement from Parliament, citing serious health concerns. Theresa Menzies succeeded her as prime minister on the same day.